Geodon, anyone?

[hagar]

Hey everyone. I was put on Geodon while IP recently and today my dose was upped to 160mg per day.

 

I was just curious to hear of other people's experiences with it, good bad and ugly, short or long term.

 

It seems to be helping tremendously for me right now, but I'm always nervous of the future because I've had so many meds that were initially great turn bad on me.

 

The only side effect I think I may be having are these weird hot and cold flashes that come on randomly, but I'm not sure if that's even an actual recognized side effect of it. I didn't think to mention it to my pdoc today, unfortunately. 

 

For reference- my diagnosis is BP 1 with psychosis, and I'm also on lithium (1800mg), Invega (9mg), and low-dose Seroquel (50mg) for sleep.

 

Thanks!

[dragonfly79]

Hello. I was on Geodon for quite awhile years ago. My morning dose made me very sleepy at first, but that wore off. I took mine with breakfast and dinner. It worked really well for me. I have the same diagnosis as you--bipolar I with psychosis, and it worked for my moods as well as my psychosis. In fact, for awhile Geodon was the only med I took for my condition. It was great being on just one med with few side effects. Unfortunately, while on Geodon I used street drugs, developed strong psychotic symptoms as a result, and had to switch back to Risperdal since the Geodon was not doing the trick after things got really bad. I hope it continues to work for you! =)

[hagar]

Thanks for replying, dragonfly. I would LOVE to get down to just this one med eventually! I'm sorry it ended up not working out for you. 

[San]

I have schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type. I took 80mg twice a day, and found it not effective for psychosis, or mood. I was always nauseated on it. I didn't have a positive experience. I took it in many combo's. I did find it weight neutral though.

[MisterJoshua]

I have been taking geodon since Thanksgiving. When I first started taking it, it made me stop whatever you are doing and go to sleep right now sleepy. That went away over time. The one side effect that hasn't gone away is dry mouth. Nothing I have tried has made it better at all. But, despite those side effects, it has been a great drug for me. Weight neutral too, which was a bonus.

[hagar]

I have schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type. I took 80mg twice a day, and found it not effective for psychosis, or mood. I was always nauseated on it. I didn't have a positive experience. I took it in many combo's. I did find it weight neutral though.

Thanks, San. I also take 80mg twice daily. I'm sorry it was so ineffective for you. I'm actually hoping it helps me gain a little weight, as I could stand to according to my doctor. I haven't had any nausea so far, so hopefully I can avoid that one.

 

I have been taking geodon since Thanksgiving. When I first started taking it, it made me stop whatever you are doing and go to sleep right now sleepy. That went away over time. The one side effect that hasn't gone away is dry mouth. Nothing I have tried has made it better at all. But, despite those side effects, it has been a great drug for me. Weight neutral too, which was a bonus.

Thanks! I already had horrible dry mouth and I have noticed that it seems to have gotten even worse since starting the Geodon (greaaat, right?). I'm glad it's worked well for you! I don't get super sleepy after a dose, just this calm mellow feeling with a quiet brain, which hey, I couldn't ask for more from any med. 

[dancingteapot]

I was on it for a few months. I can't remember much about it. I was taking it with Seroquel. So not sure what med was doing what.

I was on a high dose...I think the same amount as you.

All I know is that I ran out of it once because I'm afraid to call people. I went psychotic and had to go to the ER.

But I don't think I had any horrible side effects or anything like that.

Hope it works well for you.

[hagar]

I was on it for a few months. I can't remember much about it. I was taking it with Seroquel. So not sure what med was doing what.

I was on a high dose...I think the same amount as you.

All I know is that I ran out of it once because I'm afraid to call people. I went psychotic and had to go to the ER.

But I don't think I had any horrible side effects or anything like that.

Hope it works well for you.

Thanks! I'll definitely make sure to never run out...I've had enough of the psych ER for now.

[MisterJoshua]

I forgot to mention the withdrawals that some people get, including me. If I miss two days of geodon, I experience the worst flu like symptoms. I am talking body aches, stomach ache, headaches, nausea and diarrhea. I have a long history of stopping my meds. I did this ONCE with geodon.Fear of the withdrawal symptoms has made me stay compliant for months.

[dilemma]

I was on Geodon for 10 years.  For the last few years I was on 240mg - 80mg AM 160mg PM.  It was a great drug for me. No side effects beside the fact that it mellowed me out a bit and was helpful with sleep.  I took it with Trileptal for SA.  I was originally on Seroquel for m psychosis, but I kept increasing and increasing, until my pdoc finally switched me to Geodon, and it worked very quickly.  After about 10 years, I started developing Tardive Dyskinesia, and so my pdoc took me off it and put me on Clozaril.

 

I was so worried about switching because Geodon was so good for me, and fortunately I've been okay so far on Clozaril.

 

Good luck to you.

[hagar]

I forgot to mention the withdrawals that some people get, including me. If I miss two days of geodon, I experience the worst flu like symptoms. I am talking body aches, stomach ache, headaches, nausea and diarrhea. I have a long history of stopping my meds. I did this ONCE with geodon.Fear of the withdrawal symptoms has made me stay compliant for months.

Thanks for the warning. I have a history of doing the same, but I really wanna stick with them this time....this last episode almost killed me, again, so maybe it's finally gotten through my thick skull that these pills are necessary for me.

 

 

I was on Geodon for 10 years.  For the last few years I was on 240mg - 80mg AM 160mg PM.  It was a great drug for me. No side effects beside the fact that it mellowed me out a bit and was helpful with sleep.  I took it with Trileptal for SA.  I was originally on Seroquel for m psychosis, but I kept increasing and increasing, until my pdoc finally switched me to Geodon, and it worked very quickly.  After about 10 years, I started developing Tardive Dyskinesia, and so my pdoc took me off it and put me on Clozaril.

 

I was so worried about switching because Geodon was so good for me, and fortunately I've been okay so far on Clozaril.

 

Good luck to you.

Thanks! I'm glad it worked for you, and also glad you've found something else that works. TD sounds really scary- I hope it went away when you stopped the Geodon.

[Wonderful.Cheese]

Don't have much time here but Just wanted to tell you about biotene. For dry mouth. I'm just starting geodon and coming off of seroquel (which also gives dry mouth yuck). Check it out if you've never tried it before. It helps. I stopped using it and shouldn't have.

I'm on 20 freaking mg of geodon. Then in another week 20 mg AM and 20 mg PM. What a ridiculously slow titration. FML! But that's a different topic. Ha!

Wishing you the best with geodon!

[hagar]

Thanks Cheese! That does seem really slow, oddly so. I was on 160mg within about 2 weeks of starting it. Granted, I started it while IP and could be monitored I guess, but still.

 

And thanks for the tip! Good luck to you as well. 

[crtclms]

I had a bad experience on Geodon, since you asked for all experiences. One part of it was kind of my fault: I was celebrating my 10th wedding anniverary, and my pdoc said I could have one glass of champagne. So that came back up immediately.

 

But it also made me more anxious, obviously more anxious. I started the Geodon before the long weekend of our anniversary, and asked to come off of it when we got back. I was in tears constantly by that point. He switched me to Risperdal. Risperdal isn't the end all and be all, but when I am mixed or manic, it helps.

[hagar]

Sorry you had such a shitty experience with it, crtclms. I definitely can't drink on it, and don't plan to, as that's part of what got me into the hospital to begin with.

 

And both major episodes I've had since 2012 have been mixed (both landed me IP), so I'm hoping Geodon is good for that as well. 

[Equivilency]

I tolerated it, but the 500 cal requirement, the akathesia, and the general dopiness feeling eventually made me try another ap.

[hagar]

I tolerated it, but the 500 cal requirement, the akathesia, and the general dopiness feeling eventually made me try another ap.

Akathisia is a dealbreaker for me. Abilify caused it horrible in me and I had to go off of it before it even had a chance to work on my symptoms. Thankfully, I've had none on Geodon so far....hope it stays that way.

 

And I didn't know there's a specific amount of calories to eat with it. Pdoc just said to take it with food. I hope I'm eating enough with it.

[Equivilency]

 

I tolerated it, but the 500 cal requirement, the akathesia, and the general dopiness feeling eventually made me try another ap.

Akathisia is a dealbreaker for me. Abilify caused it horrible in me and I had to go off of it before it even had a chance to work on my symptoms. Thankfully, I've had none on Geodon so far....hope it stays that way.

 

And I didn't know there's a specific amount of calories to eat with it. Pdoc just said to take it with food. I hope I'm eating enough with it.

 

Yea its specifically 500 and I think it has to have some fat content.

[hagar]

 

 

I tolerated it, but the 500 cal requirement, the akathesia, and the general dopiness feeling eventually made me try another ap.

Akathisia is a dealbreaker for me. Abilify caused it horrible in me and I had to go off of it before it even had a chance to work on my symptoms. Thankfully, I've had none on Geodon so far....hope it stays that way.

 

And I didn't know there's a specific amount of calories to eat with it. Pdoc just said to take it with food. I hope I'm eating enough with it.

 

Yea its specifically 500 and I think it has to have some fat content.

 

Thanks, that's definitely good to know. I generally do poorly with meds that require food...like Viibryd. It never worked because I was always too depressed to eat with it. But, I'm trying with Geodon. 

[Wonderful.Cheese]

Well I'll be darned! I thought it was only 350 calories to take with geodon. I'm screwed. I don't eat a big breakfast. Maybe I can take it with lunch? Ugh.

[hagar]

Yeah, Cheese, I've been taking it mornings with a bowl of cereal or sometimes a croissant and Nutella....neither of which are 500 calories I'd imagine :/. Am I going to have to start frying bacon and sausage, or going to McDonald's every morning?!

[freezing_moon]

-

Edited October 23, 2022 by freezing_moon

[hagar]

Good luck with tapering off, freezing. I hope it goes well. Those side effects do sound intolerable- I'm sorry it ended up not working out for you. But thanks for sharing your experience!

[Wonderful.Cheese]

How's the geodon treating you lately Hagar?

For me so far so good. I increase my dose on Thursday to 20mg Twice a day.

Have you found anything 500 calories wise to eat for breakfast? Does it sedate you at all?

Just comparing notes. Haha

Hope all is well.

[hagar]

So far so good here too, Cheese! I've been on 160mg for a week or so and things are pretty evened out in my mind finally. I hope increasing your dose helps! Let me know how it goes.

 

And, don't laugh, but I've been taking it in the morning with peanut butter milkshakes which are about 600 calories if my calculations are correct, haha. I just whip them up here at home- ice cream, milk, peanut butter, and I add a little heavy cream and banana to add calories and flavor. I NEVER ate breakfast before starting Geodon, so it's nice to have something like this instead of a big meal. 

 

It sedates me in that it makes me feel really calm and mellow for the most part, but it doesn't make me sleepy or feel physically tired thankfully. It makes me able to concentrate and do things I couldn't do before, like read books lol. Other people have said otherwise, so I guess I'm lucky in that regard. 

[mellifluous]

geodon didn't work so great for me, but it also had very few side effects. the only one of note, really, was that i found myself very photosensitive. 

 

hope it continues to work for you!

[Wonderful.Cheese]

Oh that's good to hear Hagar! Lol about the shakes, but hey you gotta do what you gotta do! If it works then it works.

I'll let you know how my increased dose goes.

Take care.

[hagar]

geodon didn't work so great for me, but it also had very few side effects. the only one of note, really, was that i found myself very photosensitive. 

 

hope it continues to work for you!

Thanks!

 

 If it works then it works.

Heh, exactly! 

[hagar]

Has anyone else experienced constipation on Geodon? And if so, does it go away eventually?

 

Not sure if it's what's causing it or not, but I had to buy laxatives yesterday   .

[Squish]

I don't take Geodon - but I have experienced this lovely med side effect lots of times. Anxiety also has the same effect.  I eat flax meal with yoghurt every day and that helps a lot. Also drinking loads of water. Also walking. Also coffee.

 

I hope it goes away! Constipation gets really annoying. 

[hagar]

Thanks for the suggestions, Squish! You're right, it's reallllly annoying. I've been thinking of buying that special digestive system yogurt stuff I always see on TV, maybe it'll help.

[mellifluous]

Has anyone else experienced constipation on Geodon? And if so, does it go away eventually?

 

Not sure if it's what's causing it or not, but I had to buy laxatives yesterday   .

 

i don't recall geodon giving me constipation, but i totally think you're right to suspect it's the culprit. other atypical antipsychotics have defo caused it in me, the worst being fucking clozaril. anyway, that's beside the point. things that have worked to alleviate:

 

quickest and with most success: castor oil mixed with either prune, apple or beet juice. you'll want to take it like a shot because castor oil tastes like awful. also, it takes an hour or two, but don't be out of immediate range of facilities...when it works, it can be a bit urgent. don't overdo it though or you'll get stomach cramps...which aren't necessarily worse than the constipation...but worth mentioning.

 

also, strong black coffee (not tea for some reason), cigarettes, red wine, have worked here and there.

 

generally: the more fibre (seeds and legumes) and certain veg, like broccoli and cabbage and so forth and fewer sugary and processed foods the better for trying to be more regular overall.

 

good luck!

[hagar]

Thanks for all the suggestions, mell! I've found you're definitely right about the strong black coffee and cigarettes- those have helped the past couple of days, along with the "gentle" laxatives I bought (they're actually not so gentle, but it's better than constipation). Castor oil is a good idea, I'll definitely invest in a bottle.